FLF Alumni Insights: Suncrest USA, Inc.

What is the name of your organization? Suncrest USA, Inc.

When did you pitch at First Look Forum? 2013

How has your business grown (financially & otherwise) since you presented at First Look Forum? Since FLF we have closed our convertible note round, grown our team, filed patents and established ourselves with customers. Our 1st licensed DWC hydroponic facility just tripled its commercial growing capacity and we are fast becoming the leading supplier of premium quality local lettuce on Whidbey Island. We are now working on multiple licensing deals with growers in several states.

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from participating in First Look Forum? For me, the most valuable take-away from the FLF process was my learning to become comfortable with presenting. The feedback I received from my FLF presentation ultimately led to a complete pivot on our business model which is now a 1000 times more compelling than my original plan. At FLF, you have an audience sitting on the edge of their chairs looking for companies to become passionate in. Of course I was nervous, we all were, but afterwards, having investors take me aside and tell me how excited they were in what I was doing, gave me the drive and confidence to push forward to where we are today.

What advice would you give to future First Look Forum applicants? In a word, “practice.” Do not try to wing it. Find a room, project your slides, set-up your timer and record yourself. Practice actually presenting until you don’t make a mistake. Then, do it over and over until you can click through your slides without looking. Get up there and “own” the room. Work it like a pro. If you don’t know how, find some help.

More information: http://suncrestusa.com/

Written by Guest Blogger

Jim Day | Founder & CEO | Suncrest USA, Inc.

James Day, Chairman and CEO, founded Suncrest in 2011. He is a business executive with 25+ years of experience building companies and brands. Prior to founding Suncrest, his marketing agency, The Day Group, Inc. developed marketing programs for mid-sized firms and Fortune 500 companies in over a dozen industries. Day has been on the management team of several technology start-ups and was a turn-around consultant in the wholesale/retail greenhouse nursery business. His holds a B.A. in chemistry, completed all the course work for a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and received an interdisciplinary M.S. degree focused on sustainable agriculture, renewable energy and systems integration. He speaks conversational Spanish and basic Mandarin Chinese.